John is an incredible figure throughout the scriptures. John was steady, rock-solid, and dependable for 80 years to Jesus and His mission. John was the youngest disciple. Most theologians believe he was around 20 years old when Jesus first called him to give up everything and follow him. John was roughly 100 years old when he was writing The Book of Revelation. Some theologians also believe John was possibly the cousin of Jesus. Peter, James and John had a special privilege that the other disciples didn't have. They were a part of the inner circle. They went with Jesus to pray in the garden before He was crucified. They were with Him on the mount of transfiguration when He met with Elijah and Moses. John was also the "One Jesus Loved". John was an amazing man... All through scripture John never had any kind of scandal attached to his name. He stayed faithful to the Lord. John was their in the end with Jesus and Jesus asked him to take care of his mother. Jesus really loved and trusted John. John was a live to see alive to see all of the other disciples martyred. To keep John silent from preaching the good news they had him boiled alive. Accept it didn't kill him. So to keep him silent they sent him off alone to the Isle of Patmos. Patmos is a big rock in the middle of the sea. There is hardly any vegetation and is nothing but a big mountain rock in the middle of the sea. Patmos is roughly 6 miles by 10 miles. At the top of Patmos there is a little temple where it is believed this is where Jesus came to John to give him the Revelation and spook with him.
REVELATION 1:1-8
1:1 The revelation of Jesus Christ (Every book in the Bible is about Jesus.) which God gave him to show to his servants (Jesus gave this vision/dream/revelation to give to us. Jesus really wanted us to understand and know the things in the pages of Revelation to prepare us for the things ahead.) the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel (Angels have two roles, 1) They are messengers, which they are doing here and 2) They are ministers.) to his servant John, 2 who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw John was an eye witness to Jesus. He was there from the beginning to the very end of Jesus's ministry. No one new Jesus better the John). 3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy (We are blessed by God when we read the Bible out loud. Pastor when you teach on Sunday you are blessed by God, Life Group facilitators when you read scripture to your groups you are blessed), and blessed are those who hear (When we hear scripture read through any way we are tremendously blessed because we have heard it), and who keep what is written in it (we are blessed when we do what the Bible says. Reading the Bible is not for information. It is for transformation), for the time is near. 4 John to the seven churches (these are a network of churches that John planted. They are in modern day Turkey) that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come (John is speaking to Jesus' divinity), and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood 6 and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. 7 Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen. 8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
You can see Jesus' and John's love for the CHURCH here. Because the Church is something Jesus cares deeply for we need to keep our eyes on the Church. The Bible was written to the Church not to individuals. Jesus loves us individually and collectively. Jesus proves His love for us through the cross. He also reminds us that we are all priests. We are all in full time ministry wether we get paid or not.
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